So I do.
I lean across Isabelle’s body and snag the back of his neck. I’m tall enough to make the position work, and he doesn’t resist as I take his mouth. I come deep inside Isabelle with the taste of Beast on my tongue and it feels like the something clicks into place in my chest, a ragged edge smoothed. This feels right, so right that it scares the breath right out of my lungs.
The last time I wanted someone as desperately as I do these two people, I was left kneeling with a ring box in my hand while the woman I held above all others backed away from me. I don’t know if I can survive another rejection like that.
Beast carefully pulls out of Isabelle’s mouth and gives me that look again, the one that promises things to come. I want to believe it. I want to so desperately, I forget to hold myself back. I ease out of Isabelle and press a kiss to the back of her neck. “You’ve pleased us.”
We get to work unfastening her and I carry her to the couch where Aurora’s pulled out another of the blankets they keep for aftercare. Beast helps me tuck it around Isabelle in my lap and then drops onto the other side of Aurora, who looks so happy she’s practically purring. Satisfied that she’s good, I focus entirely on Isabelle.
She smiles up at me, a little dazed and loopy. “That was something else.”
I hold her close, letting my body steady her as she swivels a little to look at Aurora upside-down. “You are something else. All of you.” She laughs a little as if amazed. “Is it always like this?”
“It can be.” It’s a lie. It’s never like this. I have scened with near-strangers and scened with friends, have fucked both. None of those experiences come close to what we just shared. The emotional intensity drove everything to new heights. Beast catches my eye and he looks like a cat who got into the cream. Satisfied and a little lazy with it. Fuck, but that’s just as sexy as Isabelle’s buzzed joy.
Aurora stretches and climbs carefully to her feet. “Thank you for including me.” She presses quick kisses to each of our mouths in turn, and then returns to grab Isabelle’s hand and squeeze it. “I like you, Isabelle Belmonte.”
“I like you, too.” Isabelle’s laugh edges into a giggle. “Not just the sex stuff.”
“Not just the sex stuff.” Aurora smiles. “See you three around.” She lets the blanket drop next to where Beast tossed her dress on the floor earlier, and waltzes naked in the direction of the hallway leading to the private rooms. The employee areas are back there, too, which is no doubt where she’s headed. I’m not the only one who notices the little swing in her step, either. I catch Malone staring at Aurora, but she turns away before I can tell if it’s loathing or lust in her eyes.
Isabelle wiggles a little in my lap, and Beast moves closer until he’s pressed against my side and she’s in both our laps more than just mine. She gives a happy sigh as if this is exactly what she wants. “I—” She licks her lips. “I didn’t know shame could be so sexy, something to play with and enjoy instead of trying to shove down deep.”
She’s killing me. I touch her chin with the tip of my finger. This is where I need to establish some kind of boundary, to remind her—both of them—that this is just for show, not for us. I can’t do it. It’s not the truth, and I don’t know where that leaves us, but if they’re both being honest, I can give it a try, too. “Consent is the only rule, Isabelle. Everything else is up for negotiation. Even shame. Especially shame.”
She leans up and kisses my jaw. “Thank you.”
I don’t ask what she’s thanking me for. I just hold her and lean against Beast as he does the same, his hand brushing mine as we stroke Isabelle’s back. It feels right. So fucking right.
I’m still not so wrapped up in them that I’m ignoring our surroundings.
People began dispersing when we started aftercare, moving on to their own entertainments or heading for the lounge to resume drinking. Not Ursa. Malone left quickly after Aurora did, but Ursa remains on her fainting couch, a queen in waiting. Alaric kneels near her feet, but she ignores him, her entire attention seeming to be on us.
I hold her gaze over the distance of the room. Talking to her now would just undermine what we’ve done. If we’re powerful enough not to be fucked with, we’re powerful enough that we can’t walk around issuing threats. That kind of bravado reeks of weakness, and Ursa’s too smart not to see through it.